Life seems out of control sometimes. There is always something on the calendar. Some type of demand to be met. Even when there is time to relax, we have three little kids that need something almost every moment.
I'm currently doing a study with some friends entitled "running nowhere in every direction". There is much to apply and yet I keep fighting it. In my mind, I can't say "no" to people. I don't want to miss out and I thrive on relationships. At the same time, I have to be intentional or my family, my marriage and myself gets moved to the back burner.
We were sick for two weeks in this house. Just one way God is getting my attention to slow down. After that bout of illness, I took every Friday night and wrote "family night" on the calendar.
This Friday, there was a MOPS activity I could have attended. It took everything in me to stay home. I made dinner, Rod's mom was over and joined us, and Rod asked his mom to stay and watch the girls while we went out.
It was one of the best date nights Rod and I have had in a long time. We had already eaten so our night did not revolve around food. This was a strange feeling as we did not go out to eat for dinner or dessert. We decided to go bowling despite the hour long wait. As we waited, we got something to drink and sat and talk. Uninterrupted conversation? That was one we haven't felt in a while. Looking into each other's eyes as we talked? Another unusual experience. We bowled two games. I won the first. Rod won the second. Rod's total won overall. Despite the defeat, it was a night to treasure. This was well needed for our marriage.
I've been talking to different friends about making our husbands a priority. I have plenty of advice to give but sometimes I forget to take advice for myself. God is attempting to impress upon me the importance of making Rod my priority. Why is it important enough for me to schedule time with others on my calendar and yet time with my husband and daughters should just "happen".
Being intentional paid off this Friday night. Maybe we can try it again soon.
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Friday, March 20, 2009
Joe Kral for Frankfort Township Assessor
If you are a registered voter who will be voting on the Frankfort Township Assessor, this blog post is for you. It has been brought to my attention that there is a write-in candidate running against the current Frankfort Township Assessor. The current Frankfort Township Assessor, in my opinion, needs to be voted out.
I was appalled when I read the following information about the current Frankfort Township Assessor, Paul Ruff: Paul, his wife Ingrid, and their two sons, Mark and Michael, have resided in Frankfort Township for the past 33 years. Paul brings a unique viewpoint to the Township Assessor's Office, based on the following events. In the early 1980's, Paul was incapacitated due to an accident and was wheelchair bound. During his recuperation period, Paul and Ingrid received a property tax bill that included an outrageous increase, which perturbed them immensely. As a result, they appealed their property assessment to the township assessor and then to the Will County Board of Review, to no avail. At the same time several other Will County taxpayers were voicing outrage at their tax bills. The website goes on to talk about how this inspired him to run for office and how he has helped other taxpayers.
How is this appalling you may ask? He then went ahead and proceeded to fabricate information about my parents' homestead to substantially raise their taxes. I could give more details. (If you need them to be better informed in your voting, let me know.)
Bottom line is this: I firmly believe in voting out the current Frankfort Township Assessor. Please vote Joe Kral as a write-in candidate for Frankfort Township Assessor. Write in "Joe Kral" for Frankfort Township Assessor and darken the oval.
Article 1
Article 2
Article 3
And how sad is it that people cannot speak out against Paul Ruff without fear of having their assessment raised higher? It's sad and I for one wish I lived in Frankfort Township to cast my own personal vote against him.
I was appalled when I read the following information about the current Frankfort Township Assessor, Paul Ruff: Paul, his wife Ingrid, and their two sons, Mark and Michael, have resided in Frankfort Township for the past 33 years. Paul brings a unique viewpoint to the Township Assessor's Office, based on the following events. In the early 1980's, Paul was incapacitated due to an accident and was wheelchair bound. During his recuperation period, Paul and Ingrid received a property tax bill that included an outrageous increase, which perturbed them immensely. As a result, they appealed their property assessment to the township assessor and then to the Will County Board of Review, to no avail. At the same time several other Will County taxpayers were voicing outrage at their tax bills. The website goes on to talk about how this inspired him to run for office and how he has helped other taxpayers.
How is this appalling you may ask? He then went ahead and proceeded to fabricate information about my parents' homestead to substantially raise their taxes. I could give more details. (If you need them to be better informed in your voting, let me know.)
Bottom line is this: I firmly believe in voting out the current Frankfort Township Assessor. Please vote Joe Kral as a write-in candidate for Frankfort Township Assessor. Write in "Joe Kral" for Frankfort Township Assessor and darken the oval.
Article 1
Article 2
Article 3
And how sad is it that people cannot speak out against Paul Ruff without fear of having their assessment raised higher? It's sad and I for one wish I lived in Frankfort Township to cast my own personal vote against him.
Loving the Unloveable
Matthew 5:43-48 states “You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbor’ and hate your enemy. But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike. If you love only those who love you, what reward is there for that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much. If you are kind only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else? Even pagans do that. But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect." (NLT)
This is how The Message version states it as I read it in my study the other day:
"You're familiar with the old written law, 'Love your friend,' and its unwritten companion, 'Hate your enemy.' I'm challenging that. I'm telling you to love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of prayer, for then you are working out of your true selves, your God-created selves. This is what God does. He gives his best—the sun to warm and the rain to nourish—to everyone, regardless: the good and bad, the nice and nasty. If all you do is love the lovable, do you expect a bonus? Anybody can do that. If you simply say hello to those who greet you, do you expect a medal? Any run-of-the-mill sinner does that. In a word, what I'm saying is, Grow up. You're kingdom subjects. Now live like it. Live out your God-created identity. Live generously and graciously toward others, the way God lives toward you."
I love those who love me and show it. That's easy. I can even go so far to love my enemies. On the other hand, those people who grate on my nerves, irritate me, and push my buttons. Those are a little more difficult. I think these verses will be good to meditate on and apply to my life. I've slacked off when it comes to praying for the difficult people in my life. Time to reinstitute this and allow God to change my heart.
This is how The Message version states it as I read it in my study the other day:
"You're familiar with the old written law, 'Love your friend,' and its unwritten companion, 'Hate your enemy.' I'm challenging that. I'm telling you to love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of prayer, for then you are working out of your true selves, your God-created selves. This is what God does. He gives his best—the sun to warm and the rain to nourish—to everyone, regardless: the good and bad, the nice and nasty. If all you do is love the lovable, do you expect a bonus? Anybody can do that. If you simply say hello to those who greet you, do you expect a medal? Any run-of-the-mill sinner does that. In a word, what I'm saying is, Grow up. You're kingdom subjects. Now live like it. Live out your God-created identity. Live generously and graciously toward others, the way God lives toward you."
I love those who love me and show it. That's easy. I can even go so far to love my enemies. On the other hand, those people who grate on my nerves, irritate me, and push my buttons. Those are a little more difficult. I think these verses will be good to meditate on and apply to my life. I've slacked off when it comes to praying for the difficult people in my life. Time to reinstitute this and allow God to change my heart.
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Monday, March 16, 2009
Kids say...
I went for a jog tonight when Rod got home. (On a side note, I have a long way to go before I can actually run consistently for 30 minutes but something is better than nothing, right?) When I got home, I felt more relaxed and ready to face life.
Nikelle was talking about why people run.
My response went something like this: "Do you know how sometimes I yell?"
Nikelle: "Like at Daddy...you yell at him a lot."
Me: "I yell at everybody a lot."
Nikelle: "But you really yell at Daddy a lot."
Me: "You're right, Nikelle. It's wrong for me to yell at Daddy. I need to stop."
Nikelle: "Maybe you should just shut your mouth when you want to yell."
The point I was going to make to her is that I don't yell nearly as much when I get out and go for a run. I feel much more relaxed. I feel better about myself as a whole. Rod and I both told her this is why we both like it when I get out and run. She could not get off the whole thought of my yelling at her daddy, however. Sometimes I guess God just wants the conversation to take a different course.
The conversation went on but her advice was well taken. I'll try to remember to just shut my mouth from now on.
Nikelle was talking about why people run.
My response went something like this: "Do you know how sometimes I yell?"
Nikelle: "Like at Daddy...you yell at him a lot."
Me: "I yell at everybody a lot."
Nikelle: "But you really yell at Daddy a lot."
Me: "You're right, Nikelle. It's wrong for me to yell at Daddy. I need to stop."
Nikelle: "Maybe you should just shut your mouth when you want to yell."
The point I was going to make to her is that I don't yell nearly as much when I get out and go for a run. I feel much more relaxed. I feel better about myself as a whole. Rod and I both told her this is why we both like it when I get out and run. She could not get off the whole thought of my yelling at her daddy, however. Sometimes I guess God just wants the conversation to take a different course.
The conversation went on but her advice was well taken. I'll try to remember to just shut my mouth from now on.
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